UKIAH, CA., 11/18/25 – The Ukiah City Council on Wednesday will discuss a new ordinance that would enforce specific rules for street vendors within city limits.
The ordinance will be introduced at the meeting but will be reviewed by the council and may be altered before being approved at a future meeting.
A staff report for the item on the council’s agenda reads, “In recent years, the city of Ukiah has experienced a steady increase in sidewalk vending activity, particularly in public spaces including commercial corridors, street intersections, and residential neighborhoods. This trend has underscored the need for a balanced, enforceable regulatory framework.”
The City Council will be discussing an ordinance that aligns with the street vending guidelines under California’s Senate Bill 946, a sidewalk vending act passed in 2018 that decriminalized street vending and restricts local governments from entirely banning it.
The ordinance outlines several guidelines to ensure that street vendors operate properly within the city of Ukiah.
One of the proposed guidelines would require sidewalk vendors to display a valid business license, vending permit, seller’s permit and, if applicable, a Mendocino County health permit.
Other rules state that stationary sidewalk vendors would not be allowed to operate in residential areas, and that vending carts may not be left unattended. Street vendors also would be prohibited from selling near fire hydrants, driveways, emergency exits, transit stops, schools during operating hours, or at special events and farmers’ markets without formal authorization to participate.
The ordinance describes different kinds of vendors and how they operate, including whether they move to different locations or sell goods in one fixed place.
A sidewalk vendor is a person who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other nonmotorized conveyance on a public sidewalk or pedestrian street.
A stationary sidewalk vendor is a sidewalk vendor who usually stays in one set location.
The ordinance would be applicable to all sidewalk vendors in the city of Ukiah, including roaming and stationary sidewalk vendors.
The Willits City Council introduced a similar ordinance at its meeting last week.
The Ukiah City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. at the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Ave. Residents can also participate virtually via a Zoom link at the top of the agenda, which is available online here. Public comments can be emailed to meetings@cityofukiah.com or called in at (707) 463-6217.
After being set up beside the road for several hours where do street vendors go to the restroom?
One customer observed a 5 gallon bucket being used behind the food vendor trailer and said he will never go back there again.
This puts brick and mortar businesses that pay taxes rent insurance out of business. If you want to have a food truck park with restrooms and running water then great, scattered trucks and carts are bad for the county sorry.
– How about the City of Ukiah consider a public market, like Rodeo public markets? It would allow smaller food vendors to sell a larger variety of foods and act as a food mall near or in the center of town?
*Perhaps when the Courthouse is officially moved to its new destination the downtown core gets redeveloped into a food public market place? Clearly there is a demand for fast casual eateries in the area. I don’t think this will be a bad for Ukiah’s economy and it repurposes downtown as a go-to destination. ** Plus with the upcoming School St remodel this will compliment the pedestrian friendly environment already being planned out. Food for thought.